OK, so living with 3 1/2 dogs is not usually dull. (I count Fiona as a half at this point, being 3 months old-although she does take up a lot of time. :-))

We had our 3rd annual BeardieMainiacs BBQ/Bounce at our house yesterday. Let me backtrack a couple of days…..

We had been slowly getting the yard and house ready for the big event, when on Friday afternoon, the Thunderstorm warning came on TV. No biggie, happens all the time. Maddie does not like thunder and as Mac has gotten older, it makes him a little nervous. In a bit we could hear some rumbling in the distance, and I sat on the couch , letting Maddie know she was ok with me next to her (sometimes that’s all she needs).

Just then, lightning lit up outside and a small streak went across my TV (no harm done). I turned to the dogs and said, “I think I’ll shut off the computer.” By the time I got back, the three older dogs had deserted ship, and were in the basement! So I sat on the couch by myself, with little Fee at my feet. All of a sudden it was white outside! The wind whipped up, and a mixture of hail and rain was coming in so fast and at such an angle, you couldn’t see anything. I remember thinking that it was more like a hurricane than a thunderstorm.

A short while later, I heard a loud crack, boom and my house shook a little. I looked at Fee and said.b.’That’s not going to be good”. I looked out the bedroom window, and sure enough, I could see branches all over the place and on the roof. The power had gone out, so I found my cell phone (which doesn’t work in the house) and tried to call hubby at work. It was still pouring torrentially, and I was holding my hand out the door trying to get a signal and not get soaked [LOL]. I couldn’t get through to him, but did get one of my sons who worked near by. He was on his way.

Great, now what to do? Well, it was a little dark in house with no power and all the rain, so I went into the living room to raise the curtains. There in our front yard is a crater with a bunch of roots showing! One of our pine trees had been completely uprooted and left a hole while taking part of our fence out!

I threw on a raincoat and went outside, as the rain had started to let up. Our 2 willows on the other side had lost major branches that now graced my neighbor’s yard. As I got to the street, I could see the pine tree was almost completely blocking it. It only got more interesting. After a couple of hours, my son helped track my hubby down who then raced home. He went up on the roof to find a hole in it from the branches. Gee, that’s funny, I didn’t notice any water…. wait, there is now water coming from the light in our bedroom ceiling and we have wet spots on it as well. I run for a bucket, but my quilt and feather mattress are already wet. (sigh)

During all of this, the dogs were great! Fiona didn’t like the big trucks and was happy to stay in the house, but the 2 boys loved it. They sat in the corner of the yard, watching all of the activity (typical boys, love those trucks) from the public works vehicles. They cut the tree to push it off the street temporarily and the trunk and roots settled most of the way into the crater. We managed to block off the area where the fence was down, so the dogs could go out (and little Fee did great waiting to go). Our lucky break is that our neighbor is a licensed arborist! He has been helping and has an invoice ready for the insurance people!

So Saturday arrives, and we have to do some pickup and get the yard ship-shape for the BBQ. It didn’t take long, and the dogs wanted to help with all those sticks! My youngest son is storing a car here, so my other son and my hubby decided to push it back for better parking. Brian got in to steer with my husband pushing. Well that was a mistake. The car has been sitting for a while and apparently squatters took over… of the stinging kind! There was a huge nest in the door and they started swarming my son. He jumped out and shut the door and was only stung once. The car is still there.

So yesterday we were so excited about our Bounce, and though it was cloudy the Weather Channel said “occasional” showers that might hit or might not. Well, they were occasional, but it was more like occasional dry spots in between showers! We persevered, and had fun anyway, the dogs didn’t seem to mind. There were puppies running and ganging up on each other, dogs racing and playing and others just hanging around and taking it all in. (not to mention my 2 oldest who barked most of time… Beardie anyone?)

The day is over, had a great time, we are all tuckered out. We manage to make it to about nine o’clock, when guess what… the TS Warning comes on tv again! Sure enough the lightening starts in followed by thunder and lots of rain. We last till 10:00, sitting up with the dogs and it seems to be a bit better so we can go to bed. Five minutes later, Maddie comes running from her spot on the couch (that she shares with us reluctantly) and settled herself on our pillows between our heads… where she stayed. Sometime during the night, we managed to push her part way down the bed, but there she stayed, all night. (she did that Beardie dead weight thing when we tried to move her.) So I had a tiny corner of the bed to cling to, and we all went back to sleep.

This morning we are still tired, and the dogs aren’t moving much. We did get to see the public works guys come back and take the tree and clean up branches bright and early — thanks for that!

So, never complain that things are dull and nothing happens. You may get everything in one weekend. I am now going to slowly put shoes on and walk outside with the dogs, where they will probably stand there and look at me like they did earlier. (can we go back to sleep now?!)

The walking Zombies….
Val
Mac , Maddie, Traveler and Fiona

We need a new reality show….(we don’t have enough, right?!) You have heard of “Are you Smarter than 5th Grader?”…how about “Are you Smarter than Your Beardie?”

I play this on a daily basis. Every day the dogs go out to do their thing, wander the yard, check on the neighbors, etc. The boys are usually pretty good about coming back in (mostly because they are big Mama’s boys and want to make sure the other one doesn’t get too much attention) but Maddie likes to be convinced. Depending on what I am doing and how much I want her back in the house, the game varies.

“Maddie, where’s my pretty girl ?”(in a sing-song version of course)

A couple minutes later….”Maddie, Mommy has work to do, come, come , coooome” (still singing-keep that happy voice).

…and a few minutes later… ”MADDIE! Here we go! ” (I am done singing) ……

Now, the next part of this varies. I can either bribe her, or go outside and get her to come in. 

“Vanna, what did she choose?”

“Let’s take Bribery for 10.00.” (yes, I know I am mixing up my game shows)

“Maddie, come get a carrot (or birthday cake or cookie, although carrot is the stand-by — she will do anything for those).” In a few seconds I hear the pitty-pat of little Beardie feet as she makes her way to the door. I guess I lost that round, although I did get her in the house (but she did get a treat).

Let’s say I go outside to bring her in. She is usually waiting on the far side of the yard, sitting there, waiting to see what my next move will be. As I move closer to her she gets up and starts moving farther away from me. I put my head down and keep walking, moving in a circle around her, and by doing so, slowly work her toward the door. (see, I know how to herd!) Then, when she gets close enough to the door, my arms go out and I say “OK, that’s enough, let’s go in.” She will run for the stairs and when we get to the door, I tell her she is a good girl and we go in. I think I won that one, but she did get me to come out and “play”, so I’m not so sure…..

OK, here’s another one. I have to go into the way-back machine for this one. (some of you may know this story, but it is still funny)

Gracie was from my first litter of Beardies about 12 years ago. I kept her; she was just so “Beardie” to me and we just connected right from the first day. Anyway, she was about 10 weeks old or so, and I had her gated in the kitchen. I would go out and do my dishes, etc, and get my cleaning supplies.

At the time (notice I said ”at the time”) I had this big red feather duster. I could see Gracie eyeing it as I moved around the kitchen. I had to go into the other room, and thought, well she isn’t going to get this. I carefully put it in the middle of my long pine table in the kitchen (the kind with benches) and left the room for 5 minutes. Gracie was sitting in the middle of the kitchen.

When I came back she was still in the exact same spot. There was one slight difference……RED FEATHERS ARE EVERYWHERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They are on the table, the floor, the counters, all over HER, woven into her fur, and some are gently wafting their way to the ground. I do wish I had gotten a picture of that. Her expression was simply…”What? I don’t notice anything?”

Then there is Mac…..and Traveler…and …hmmmm. Maybe I don’t want to play. Why would I want to play a game that I LOSE all the time. Oh wait, I do it everyday…right.

Well maybe it has its up sides.

Laughter, fun, friends, Love,………I guess I do win after all.

Val

Hi there. This is Traveler. I don’t rite much, as I am usually busy making sure my bruther Mac doesn’t get into trubble. (he likes to steal things in the sink,and I have to yell REAL LOUD so my Mom can tell him to get down) I also have to make sure that all of the bones and good toys are kept on my rug in the hallway. It is hard, as my sister Maddie steals them back and puts them on the couch (she thinks she’s special…just because she turned SEVEN!)

So I was taking Mom to obedience classes, and she was doing pretty good. It is hard for her to catch on sometimes, but we keep working, and I know she will get it soon. We have been working on this new thing- every night after Mom and Dad have supper, Mom is supposed to go out to the kitchen and give us something yummy. Sometimes we have a bit of chicken, or steak, sometimes it is a piece of a roll (although I like the chicken better, I reward her for that too) but the portant thing is that she does it every night. Training is hard, you have to be consistent, right?! Well I thought she was doing well and had finally learned the after supper trick.
Last night, they had supper and then she went and sat down! All that hard work I have been doing! So I waited , and when she didn’t pay attention, I had to gently nudge her. Well silly Mom, she still didn’t get it. So I jumped on her and raced out to the kitchen. I mean do I have to draw her a map?! She finally caught on, got up and came out to the kitchen. I was very glad since my favorite chicken tenders were on the menu.

Boy this training is never done is it? I know we have to keep doing things, and make sure that they get rewarded for all the good stuff, but sometimes I am not sure they will catch on. I won’t give up tho, she is nice and she likes it when I train her.

Ok, I have to go and watch Mac, and check for bones on the couch. My work is NEVER done…

Traveler

Ok, maybe not an Olympic event, but I may have stumbled on a new exercise routine.

Grooming is not the most fun thing to do, but face it, it has to be done. The challenge that we have is getting Traveler onto the grooming table, avoiding Mac as he tries to jump and grab Traveler out of our arms and off the table( because it has to be HIS turn) and then Maddie joins the fun (I use that term loosely) by barking and running around the grooming table. OK, first part done- Traveler is on the table. Now Breathe. Assemble the tools you will need( I have a few basics on hand- ok maybe more than a few ) and get the spray bottle with water ready. Now a quick lift and turn and Trav is
on his side. (good for the upper arms, strengthen those back muscles)

I start brushing in slow smooth strokes, using nice even arm movements. I use the spray bottle, letting a fine mist drop onto his coat. Now let’s increase the aerobic part of this…Maddie is now barking and has gone to find a bone that she drops under the table. In one clean leg movement, I kick the bone and it slides into the other room. (this way you use the large muscle groups) She’s off! She chases down the bone, brings it back and we do it all over again- as many times as she feels I need. Mac , meanwhile, has started scouting the floor for any stray hair that falls (I do not know why he likes to eat the hair, but we have to watch him very carefully! I do NOT like to find it later in the middle of my bed ) As a fluff of hair gently wafts it’s way to the floor, I bend and scoop and swing my body back to grooming position. Now I take a minute to do a few short cleansing breaths ( ok, I am really yelling at the other two to please go and lie down, but that doesn’t sound as nice) OOPS, Trav has taken this opportunity to spring up off of the table in hopes that while I am yell…er ..breathing, he can escape.

Not so!! I grab and turn and lay him down, and we start all over again. I have to figure out where I left off, since, as he made his move to leave, it messed his hair up and I lost my place. No biggie, there is plenty to work on.

By this time, I have worked up a nice sweat, and can really feel those muscles working. Let’s start to slow down, and get that heart rate down to a nice easy level…….it is finally quiet. Maddie is chewing her bone, Mac is sitting there , staring at me(or waiting for hair to fall) and I am almost done. A quick topknot for Traveler, bend and hold Mac back so Traveler can get off the grooming table(this is a nice stretch for those back muscles) and we are done! After a few deep breaths, we all go outside so Mac and Maddie can pick on Traveler and put him in his place.

Now don’t forget to stretch before you do any exercise routine and maybe check with a doctor to see if you need your head examined…your call.

Val
Table anyone?

It’s snowing again here in Maine. Not an unusual occurrence, certainly, but we have had enough I think [LOL].

This storm’s snow is light and fluffy, and luckily for me, easy to move (shovel!) I don’t tell anyone, but I enjoy being outside, snow falling, as I work to clear the paths and driveway. (of course the enjoyment ends when it goes below zero and the wind whips up… they can wait till spring then!) Anyway, as I was working down the driveway, I saw that the plow had left a huge mountain of snow ahead of me. Now I had just shoveled all of this out about 2 hours before, making sure that I had moved enough snow so that WHEN the plow went by, we wouldn’t get much “backlash”. Of course my neighbors didn’t, so guess where theirs went?! I stood looking at it for a few minutes. (The dogs stand in the yard, on the other side of the fence, thinking I am playing this great game and why aren’t they invited?)

I decide my plan of attack, working small sections and sliding each shovelful, up the driveway and to the side. This area works better for me as far as lifting goes, no snow banks, and I can pile it against the trees. For a while I am busy, attacking each area, standing back occasionally to see if I need to alter my plan or direction. Before I know it, there is only a small little hill of snow left and then that is quickly dispatched. It gives me a good feeling, I have accomplished something….then the wheels start to turn.

I look at the Beardies in the corner of the fenced yard, wagging their tails and wondering when they can play too. My “mountain” experience makes me think of all of the times my guys have done that Beardie thing we call “problem solving”. Mac comes to mind of course [G]. He would see his objective, wait till he thought we didn’t know what was going on, then go for it! He waited 3 months for his chance to climb onto the couch, step on a stand, go to the bookcase and start climbing that, to reach the stuffed bunnies he loved (but wasn’t supposed to have) His mind works like this and I have seen others do that too.

I love to watch a Beardie when they are thinking (yes they think, although sometimes it seems doubtful) . They get this expression on their faces, their eyes seem to drift off someplace, yet you can see the wheels turning — it’s amazing. They don’t seem fazed that the problem may be too big for them, they analyze, find the best course of action and just do it.

So I wonder, as I stand in the falling snow, pleased with my accomplishment — do I love these dogs so much because we have the same traits? Or has their ability to problem solve, rubbed off on me in the years they have been in my life? Maybe I’ll never know. Maybe their real gift to us, is that they bring out our best qualities. We are able to do things, to be better people, to be more than we thought we could be… BECAUSE they give us all of this love and laughter and trust (and sometimes frustration [g]) and it enables us to go out there into the world and do more, be more than we ever thought we could.

Thanks guys. Now let’s play……

Val

Finally am done with Christmas orders and can take a few days off. I am baking molasses snaps for Christmas baskets (and have my dough for the best-ever sugar cookies waiting in the fridge) and Christmas music is playing on the radio.

Earlier, I went out to shovel the stairs and a path to the gate. The dogs were out enjoying the snow. Mac was in his corner, watching the neighbors clear the driveways; Maddie was leaping and bouncing in the snow, trying to get Traveler to play, and Traveler had no clue as usual, and kept diving his face into the snow and laughing when he came back up [LOLl] (that’s the only way I can describe it).

You would think that Maddie would run outside and then rush back in, considering she has no hair! We finished clipping her down, as her operation messed up the rear and the cone messed up the front. She looks a bit like a small deer with that fawn color [g]. She loves the cold though, burying herself in the snow, running and leaping about with a smile on her face. She hates hot weather, and just waits for those first cold days of the year….

Well back to baking before I burn something. The dogs always hope for that, as they get to help “clean up”. I miss Mira especially now- she was my helper in the kitchen and loved it when it was baking day. She made sure that the floor was kept clean, and always volunteered to taste test. Hope she is baking anytime she wants now…

Merry Christmas,

Val

OK, I know it is officially winter…I had to yell at Maddie for eating frozen poo! What is the attraction with that?!

We spend how much time? …pondering the ingredients in dog food. Which is best, which has the most nutrients, is it organic, all natural…etc. What we really need is a new dog food for picky eaters.

New from Canine Plus!! Just what your dog wants!! Flavored with sticks, used tissues, dirt, and frozen poo!! A must for those dogs that need something extra. Designed BY dogs FOR dogs! But wait! Don’t forget the new flavors…Grass and cat litter! All with extra socks for fiber.

Think it would sell?

Val

and Maddie, doing her bit for the environment…Mac and Traveler (pass the sticks please)

I know there is SOMETHING I am supposed to remember today…..let’s see…what could it be?

I KNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

IT IS TRAVELER’S BIRTHDAY!

The little man is 3 years old today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wow, I am so excited. That can only mean that his brain will be arriving soon

Happy Birthday to all his siblings, and a huge “snuzzle’ to my Little Buddy.

Thanks to Larry and Angela for sending him our way and to Lesley for all her help and her shoulder when I needed it.

Val and Pat